Friday, July 5, 2013

"Milwaukee’s Archbishop Listecki
warned people last week, “Prepare to be shocked”, with regards to reading sexual
abuse case-related church documents which were released July 1st.I read several of the documents and the
following things did strike me with intensity so I appreciate the warning:The Vatican stated in
one of its letters to Tim Dolan, Milwaukee’s archbishop at the time, “…the
Dicastery would call to your Excellency’s attention the priorities for the use
of ecclesial goods as established in c.1254.2, noting that the support of clergy
ranks second in importance only to divine worship.”I think many people sense church hierarchy
prioritizes protecting ritual and clergy above all else but it was startling to
see it in writing.There’s no mention of
the flock, victims or anything else as having a priority other than ritual and
clergy, by the way. .."

Bridget Mary's Response:

How many times must we encounter the same tragic response from the hierarchy and Vatican to the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church?

Gianni Valentevatican city“The Latin American ecclesial and theological movement known
as “Liberation Theology”, which spread to other parts of the world after the
Second Vatican Council, should in my opinion be included among the most
important currents in 20th century Catholic theology.” This
authoritative and glorifying historical evaluation of Liberation Theology did
not just come from some ancient South American theologian who is out of touch
wit the times. The above statement was made by Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller,
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which Ratzinger headed
in the 1980’s, after John Paul I appointed him to the post. The Prefect gave two
instructions, warning against pastoral and doctrinal deviations from Latin
American theological currents of thought.This decisive comment about the Liberation Theology movement
is not just some witty remark that happened to escape the mouth of the current
custodian of Catholic orthodoxy. The same balanced opinion pervades the densely
written pages of “On the Side of the Poor. The Theology of Liberation”, a
collection of essays co-written with liberation theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez and
published in Germany in 2004. Gutiérrez invented the formula for defining the
Liberation Theology movement, whose actions were – for a long time – closely
scrutinised by the Ratzinger-led Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The
movement was not criticised once during this time.Today the book seems to wave goodbye in a way to the
theological wars of the past and the hostility that flash up now and again, to
cause alarm on purpose.The book put an official seal on a common path the two had
followed for many years. Müller never hid his closeness to Gustavo Gutiérrez,
whom he met in Lima in 1988, during a study seminar. During the ceremony for the
honorary degree which the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru granted to
Müller in 2008, the then bishop of Regensburg defined the theological thought of
his master and Peruvian friend as fully orthodox. In the months before Müller’s
nomination as head of the dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, some claimed
his closeness to Gutiérrez proved he was not suited to the role previously held
by Cardinal Ratzinger (24 long years).In the book’s essays, the two authors/friends back each
other up. Müller says the merits of Liberation Theology go beyond the Latin
American Catholic. The Prefect stressed that in recent decades, Latin America’s
Liberation Theology movement has been oriented towards the image of Jesus Christ
the Redeemer and liberator, an image all genuinely Christian theological
currents are oriented towards. This stems from an evangelical inclination
towards the poor. Müller affirmed that “poverty in Latin America oppresses
children, the elderly and the sick,” to such an extent that many are driven to
“contemplate death as the only way out.” Right from the outset, the Liberation
Theology movement “forced” theological movements founded elsewhere, not to
consider the real living conditions of people and individuals as something
abstract. He saw “the body of Christ” in the poor, as Pope Francis does.The arrival of the Catholic Church’s first Latin American
Pope made it possible to look at those years and experience without being
conditioned by the controversies that raged at the time. Without the ritualism
of the false mea culpas and superficial changes, it is easier today to see that
the hostility shown by certain sections of the Church towards the Liberation
Theology movement was politically motivated and did not really stem from a
desire to preserve and spread the faith of the apostles. Those who paid the
price were the theologians and pastors who were completely immersed in the
evangelical faith of their people. They either ended up in the mince or faded
into the shadows. For a long time, the hostility shown towards the Liberation
Theology movement was invaluable factor in helping some climb the ecclesiastical
career ladder.In one of his speeches, Müller (who in an interview on 27
December 2012 suggested it was likely a Latin American would substitute
Ratzinger as Pope) did not hesitate to describe the political and geopolitical
factors that had influenced certain “crusades” against the Liberation Theology
movement: “the satisfaction of depriving the Liberation Theology movement of all
meaning was intensified by capitalism’s sense of triumph, which was probably
considered to have gained absolute victory. It was seen as an easy target that
could be fitted into the same category as revolutionary violence and Marxist
terrorism,” Müller said. He referred to a secret document prepared for President
Reagan by the Committee of Santa Fé in 1980 (so 4 years before the Vatican’s
first Instruction on the Liberation Theology movement), requesting that the U.S.
government take aggressive action against the movement, which was accused of
transforming the Catholic Church into “a political weapon against private
property and productive capitalism by infiltrating the religious community with
ideas that are less Christian than communist.'' Müller said: “The impertinence
shown by the document’s authors, who are themselves guilty of brutal military
dictatorships and powerful oligarchies, is disturbing. Their interest in private
property and the capitalist production system has replaced Christianity as a
criterion.”

After decades of fierce conflicts and opposition, the friendship
between the two theologians – the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith and the man who was once investigated by the Congregation – has
helped create a clear distinction between the ephemeral ideological frameworks
of the past and the genuine evangelical spirit that inspired so many of
the paths taken by Latin American Catholicism after the Second Vatican
Council. In Müller’s eyes, 85 year old Gutiérrez - who is due
to visit Italy, including Rome, this coming September - did not wear out his
theological reflections in conferences or university meetings but found
inspiration in the liturgies priests celebrated for the poor, in Lima’s run down
suburbs. Essentially he was inspired by the basic experience which derived from
the idea that “being Christian means following Jesus,” as Gutiérrez himself said
in simple and biblical terms. It is the Lord himself who tells us we should
“commit to working directly with the poor. The truth brings us closer to the
poor,” Müller said, quoting his Peruvian
friend..."

..."Transformed by this love, we gain fresh vision, new eyes to see; we realize that
it contains a great promise of fulfilment, and that a vision of the future opens
up before us. Faith, received from God as a supernatural gift, becomes a light
for our way, guiding our journey through time. On the one hand, it is a light
coming from the past, the light of the foundational memory of the life of Jesus
which revealed his perfectly trustworthy love, a love capable of triumphing over
death. Yet since Christ has risen and draws us beyond death, faith is also a
light coming from the future and opening before us vast horizons which guide us
beyond our isolated selves towards the breadth of communion. We come to see that
faith does not dwell in shadow and gloom; it is a light for our darkness. Dante,
in the Divine Comedy, after professing his faith to Saint Peter, describes that
light as a "spark, which then becomes a burning flame and like a heavenly star
within me glimmers...."

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

They came. They came to our Tuesday Ministry, July 2,2013, in the flash
flood,thunder and lightening type of summer rain we are having here in Fort
Myers, Florida. They came by foot, by bike and by bus. Only Roger has a car and
he brought two others. Almost everyone was dripping wet. We gave out shirts and
towels. Lauretta opened her heavy backpack and gave out mangos from her tree to
everyone. The mangos were exquisite and she was applauded. Chris settled her 3
month old baby and two year old in. Little Carl was given a big new truck and he
moved it around the circle. Kathleen, 70, wiped her face and silver hair with a
towel and sat by her favorite person, Mr. Gary who welcomed her warmly. Some came because they were hungry and Ellen McNally the local Call to Action
President and her husband Jack,85, brought a tantalizing homemade Lasagna with
garlic bread that cooked in the oven awaiting presentation with a delicious
green salad and deserts. Call To Action is a progressive Catholic group with
chapters throughout the United States and they support women priests. On our
Ministry Tuesdays they make this a literal form of support by bringing and
serving the food prepared by themselves and other CTA members. They are an
important part of our Good Shepherd Ministries, served by two Roman Catholic
women priests, myself, Judy Lee, and co-pastor Judy Beaumont. Ellen and Jack are
a part of the family that gathers on Tuesdays. They were with us in 2007 when we
joined a ministry of the Lamb of God Lutheran Episcopal church in feeding the
hungry and homeless on Saturday nights in a local park. They were with us in
2008 when we drew up to a hundred and fifty people on our Friday night Church in
the Park. They were with us in late 2009 when we purchased the house that we
turned into a church and a transitional shelter for homeless people. And they
remain with us now as we continue the feeding traditions on Tuesdays and Sunday
after church. No one needs come to church to be fed, the hot food is served
after the church service and all are welcome to any part of the afternoon. They
also can get food from our food pantry at those times. They are among the over
70 homeless people we have now gotten into affordable housing and assisted in
getting incomes. And they are the newly homeless or unemployed or living on low
fixed incomes who seek our support. They come to minister to each other. Those
with homes bring those without homes and resources to be helped.They come because we are family to those who have no families and friends to
those who have no friends. They come because they are hungry for affiliation and
acceptance and love and a place to have fellowship and thank God together as
much as for food and a host of social and spiritual services. Most love coming
to the worship and discussion of the day’s Scriptures that takes place before
the meal.Our group meeting is lively and animated. People were were shunned and
scorned by others now lead the group. Today’s Scriptures were the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers in Genesis
49 and of Jesus telling his followers not to be afraid and to trust God’s love
as God knows when a tiny bird falls and how many hairs you have on your head.
Joking about his shaved head, Mr. G. led the discussion of forgiveness sharing
that for the first time he was able to ask a family member for forgiveness. He
said it was easier for him to forgive than to ask for forgiveness. But a weight
was lifted off of his chest. This resonated with many as they shared stories of
forgiving and being forgiven. Lauretta tied the two Scriptures together as she
said “I know the love God has for me because of this church. When I came to the
church when it was in the park, I was out of my head. I needed forgiveness from
so many for the things I did. I disrupted everything. No one wanted to come near
me. I was thrown out of every other church and was so hungry. This church
welcomed me as I was and cared for me as if I was a little sparrow with broken
wings. The pastors and all of you who were there loved me back to health. I
could not accept my mental illness and would not take my medicine. But through
your love today I am happy to take my meds, I have a lovely home and am reunited
with my family,and most of all you are my family. That’s why I bring you fruits
and honey and things all the time.” Everyone applauded her and the meeting went
on.After the meeting I spoke with Chris who is newly housed with her two babies.
We agreed to help her pay her electricity deposit or she would lose this
precious housing. This is not something we do often as the line then goes around
the block.But we could not see her lose this precious housing. She was also
delighted at the gifts of clothing for her children and herself and her
developmentally slow older brother. As I held the tiny baby who already wheezed
with asthma I thought of those sparrows and prayed.Judy Lee,ARCWP

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-plans-dramatic-pro-immigrant-outing"For Europeans, especially Italians, the southern Mediterranean island of
Lampedusa has become what the deserts along the Mexican/U.S. border have long
been for Americans -- the scene of appalling humanitarian tragedies as desperate
migrants try to reach a better life as well as a metaphor for political and
cultural tensions over immigration policy.

The fact that Pope Francis has chosen Lampedusa for his first visit outside
Rome on Monday, therefore, is anything but casual.To get a sense of its impact, imagine a newly elected president of the United
States announcing that his first trip outside D.C. would be to the border to see
for himself where people have died and to embrace detainees in an ICE facility.
It would be taken as a bold way of proclaiming that compassion will be a
hallmark of the new administration. That's exactly how Italians, and Europeans
generally, are reacting to Francis' planned outing.Traveling without the usual pomp, Francis is scheduled to arrive Monday
morning to embrace migrants who've made it to Lampedusa, mostly from Africa and
the Middle East, and to mourn those who died along the way. The Vatican
announced the trip just a week in advance, suggesting it's a highly personal
decision.The trip has an interreligious dimension, given that a large share of those
who wash up on the island are Muslims. It also has clear political subtext,
including in the United States where Catholic bishops are leading the charge for
immigration reform..."

Monday, July 1, 2013

What a beautiful day this was at the Good Shepherd Church in Fort Myers,
Florida! The mothers, Linda and Toni Ann moved us greatly by beginning the
celebration of the baptisms with prayers for the children.

When Jakein read his
prayer of thanksgiving before his First Holy Communion, I thought my heart would
burst. These prayers are in the tradition of the Black Catholic church and have
so much meaning that they should be used everywhere.

While the pictures of
the day are imperfect, and many of the most important moments were missed, it
was a perfect joy for our community to share in the baptisms of Jakein John, 11
and Courtney Symone, just 7 months old. Jakein was both serious and joyful. His
understanding of what happened to him today is way beyond his years.

He summed
it up saying: "When I was baptized I felt so different and after it was over I
felt better,I felt so good.I feel new and I am new!" The baby was amazing too,
she never cried or fussed, but seemed to be taking it all in with her mother,
Grandmother and little Aunt,Joelle whom we baptized three yeas ago now. Our
proud God-parents are Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Pearl Cudjoe who made the day for
these children and families in the way they stood up for them-and this will be
for always.

Jakein's Grandmother and mother were there as well along with 14
members of his family,all of whom we baptized except one. He is 21 and will be
baptized this Fall.

To us, this is what it is all about-opening the
saacraments and sharing them with everyone!Oh yes, oh Happy Day!